Voters are torn between the parties

I was fascinated to listen to the speech of the new Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, at the annual party conference held in Bournemouth.

The new leader claimed that the great Lib Dem “fightback” is now under way.

While this is pleasing news to the party faithful, I have to ask the question, is this not the same political rhetoric we have heard over and over again?

In reality, following his party’s crushing General Election defeat at the polls, Mr Farron is faced with trying to rebuild the castle with just eight MPs including himself that are left at Westminster.

Now they are all on the opposition backbenches, as leader he doesn’t even have the right to ask a question at PMQs every week ,which has left him with little room for manoeuvre.

In their five years in coalition government their former leader and Deputy Prime Minister was seen cosying up to David Cameron, which has resulted in the Lib Dems losing credibility, as well as hundreds of decent local councillors. Only last year they were left with just a single MEP after the European elections.

So why on earth did Tim Farron seek to glorify his predecessor to the sound of rapturous applause seen on national television?

Is “Cleggmania” still alive?

Perhaps Mr Farron should be reminded that he is on record as being critical of the policies of the ConLib government.

The new leader of the Lib Dems has certainly a mountain to climb if his party is to truly become the “comeback kids”.

They have to remember they are at rock bottom and that voters today are torn between parties of power and protest and after flirting with the Tories they have ended up as neither.